Jeonju

The Literary Space of 『Honbul』 at 29 Choi Myeong-hui-gil

Choi Myeong-hui Literary Museum is an urban literary museum in Jeonju Hanok Village that introduces Choi Myeong-hui, the author of the novel 『Honbul』. However, as it is temporarily closed as of August 19, 2026, plan your itinerary around Choi Myeong-hui-gil and the building’s exterior rather than an exhibition visit.

By the KOTourLive Editorial Team Updated: Sep 2, 2026 18 min 196

I’ve been here?

Your check-in helps the next traveler.

25 people viewed this week Be the first

One tap — no writing needed

Temporary Closure You Should Know About First: August 19, 2026

The Jeonju tourism information page lists the Choi Myeong-hee Literature Museum as “temporarily closed” as of August 19, 2026. This is a temporary closure due to internal circumstances, and no reopening date has been announced. Therefore, you should not assume that you can currently enter the exhibition rooms to view materials related to Choi Myeong-hee.

According to previous information, operating hours were 10:00–18:00, with regular closing days every Monday, January 1, and the day of a major holiday. Admission was listed as free, along with a notice to reconfirm operating status before visiting. The inquiry phone number is 063-284-0570.

전주한옥마을 안 최명희문학관 건물 전경입니다. — A view of the Choi Myeong-hee Literature Museum building inside Jeonju Hanok Village. — Photo source: jeonju.go.kr

Choi Myeong-hee, 1947–1998, and Why It Opened in 2006

The Choi Myeong-hee Literature Museum opened on April 25, 2006, to honor and carry on the literary spirit of writer Choi Myeong-hee (1947–1998) and help it develop further. Jeonju tourism information introduces it as an urban, citizen-oriented literature museum centered on writer Choi Myeong-hee and the only literature museum in Jeonju.

Her best-known work is the epic novel Honbul. While focusing on discovering and reexamining Choi Myeong-hee and her works, the museum has also offered literary lectures, discussion sessions, seminars, and literary tours for the literary and creative activities of Jeonju citizens. In other words, it is not merely a facility that showcases the traditional architecture of Hanok Village; it is a space designed to connect local writers with citizens’ writing activities.

최명희문학관의 전시와 건축 공간을 보여주는 사진입니다. — A photograph showing the exhibitions and architectural spaces of the Choi Myeong-hee Literature Museum. — Photo source: jeonju.go.kr

What Could Be Seen Within 481.05㎡

The museum has a total floor area of approximately 481.05㎡ and consists of one basement level and one above-ground level. The stated capacity is around 70 people for the exhibition room and around 100 people for the seminar room. According to public tourism information, a visit takes approximately 20 minutes to 1 hour, making it a manageable stop to fit between activities in Hanok Village after reopening.

The collection list includes five types of handwritten letters by Choi Myeong-hee, 50 types of handwritten postcards, and one handwritten résumé. It also lists 340 volumes of materials from the 1st through 6th Honbul Literature Festivals, 150 master’s and doctoral dissertations, 100 photographs related to Choi Myeong-hee, approximately 230 books containing her works, 1,740 books related to her, and 300 books by writers from Jeolla Province.

최명희문학관 내부 자료와 전시 공간을 담은 사진입니다. — A photograph of materials and exhibition spaces inside the Choi Myeong-hee Literature Museum. — Photo source: jeonju.go.kr

How to Read Honbul Through a Montblanc Fountain Pen

The collection includes the Okgwan Order of Cultural Merit, a traditional shield-shaped kite, and manuscript paper. In particular, the five literary desk tools—a Montblanc fountain pen, ruler, knife, iron cord, and scissors—allow visitors to understand the writer’s manuscript work through the context of actual writing tools rather than as an abstract story.

Korean Literature Museum TV posted a video introducing Choi Myeong-hee’s handwritten letters and postcards on April 11, 2020, and on September 28, 2021, posted a video introducing the birth of the novel Honbul at the Choi Myeong-hee Literature Museum. The fact that Choi Myeong-hee wrote about language and her mother tongue in her acceptance remarks for the 8th Ho-Am Prize in 1998 is also connected to the museum’s introduction of the writer.

최명희문학관에서 최명희의 문학 세계를 살펴보는 전시 사진입니다. — An exhibition photograph exploring Choi Myeong-hee’s literary world at the Choi Myeong-hee Literature Museum. — Photo source: jeonju.go.kr

Sentences on Choi Myeong-hee-gil and a Hanok Village Route

The address is 29, Choi Myeong-hee-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State, and the museum is located inside Jeonju Hanok Village in Pungnam-dong 3-ga, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si. Jeonju’s regular tour route includes Jeondong Cathedral, then Taejo-ro, then the Fan Culture Center and Choi Myeong-hee Literature Museum, followed by Eunhaeng-ro. Rather than visiting the museum alone, it is easier to understand its setting by combining it with Hanok Village’s existing sightseeing route.

Choi Myeong-hee-gil, where the museum is located, has a car-free alley created by local residents and art benches. The benches feature phrases from Honbul together with illustrations by local artists, and sentences from the novel have also been installed on the tiled wall of the museum. During the temporary closure, a walk along this street to view the sentences and exterior can substitute for an indoor visit, but it should not be mistaken for access to an open exhibition.

Writing Programs You May Join After Reopening

The museum’s information lists “A Letter Received One Year Later,” “From Jeonju, One Postcard,” and making flower bookmarks as hands-on programs. Making a “Gwang-gil Pyeonu” from writer Choi Myeong-hee’s reporting notebook, practicing the writer’s calligraphy, and “The Power of Transcription, the Effort of Transcription” are also included in the list.

Because the museum is currently temporarily closed, it has not been confirmed whether these programs are operating or whether participation fees and reservations are required. After reopening, literary lectures, discussion sessions, seminars, and literary tours may be held, so the museum can be planned not merely as a place to view exhibitions but as a space where you can add an activity or lecture according to your schedule.

For Visitors Planning to Rent the Seminar Room

The seminar room is on the first basement level and is listed as measuring 15 m in length and 6.2 m in width. It accommodates around 100 people, and the standard rental period is three hours. Visitors looking for a venue for a literary gathering or lecture should distinguish exhibition visits from rental information.

The rental fee is listed as 15,000 won per hour based on the three-hour minimum, with an additional 40,000 won per hour outside opening hours. However, because the museum is temporarily closed, you must inquire about current rental availability at 063-284-0570. Seminar-room use should not be understood as a service guaranteed to general visitors.

Unanswered Questions About the Address, Parking, and Accessibility

Public tourism information states that parking is available and parking fees are free, but it does not provide the number of spaces or the parking-lot location. Since the address is inside the alleys of Jeonju Hanok Village, foreign visitors traveling by car should avoid assuming that they can park directly in front of the museum.

It is stated that stroller rental is unavailable, while information about wheelchair access, ramps, stairs, and accessible restrooms has not been confirmed. Pets are listed as not allowed, and credit-card use is listed as “no information.” English-language guidance, an audio guide, photography restrictions, and the admission closing time have also not been announced, so these are items that should currently be checked by phone along with the temporary-closure status.

Souvenirs and Viewing Order After Reopening

Cultural products listed include manuscript-paper sticky notes, Honbul quote stickers, Honbul cover magnetic bookmarks, flower-heart ballpoint pens, and Honbul pencils. Prices have not been disclosed, so free admission and souvenir sales should be considered separate matters.

After reopening, an appropriate order would be to first view materials about Choi Myeong-hee’s life and Honbul, then examine her handwritten letters, handwritten postcards, and writing tools, before heading outside to the sentences and art benches on Choi Myeong-hee-gil. The officially recommended viewing time is approximately 20 minutes to 1 hour. Since indoor viewing may currently be impossible, the key point is to confirm operating status at 063-284-0570 before entering the address into your navigation system.

Before You Go

Address: 29, Choi Myeong-hee-gil, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeonbuk State
Hours: Currently temporarily closed due to internal circumstances. Previously listed hours were 10:00–18:00, with closing days every Monday, January 1, and the day of a major holiday.
Closed: Currently temporarily closed. Previously listed closing days: every Monday, January 1, and the day of a major holiday.
Admission: Free.
Phone: 063-284-0570
Official site: https://tour.jeonju.go.kr/board/view.jeonju?boardId=BBS_0000003&dataSid=9797&menuCd=DOM_000000101010000000&paging=ok&startPage=1
Transport: Located inside Jeonju Hanok Village; Jeonju’s regular tour route includes the Fan Culture Center and Choi Myeong-hee Literature Museum. Specific bus routes, stops, and walking time could not be confirmed.
Parking: Public tourism information states that parking is available and parking fees are free. The number of spaces and parking-lot location could not be confirmed.
Time needed: Approximately 20 minutes to 1 hour, according to public tourism information.
Accessibility: Stroller rental is stated to be unavailable. Wheelchair access, slopes and stairs, and accessible facilities could not be confirmed.

The information above is accurate as of the time of writing. Check the official information again before visiting.

Choi Myeong-hui Literary Museum Honbul Jeonju Hanok Village literary space temporary closure Choi Myeong-hui-gil

Be the first to plan a visit

Places

This Place

최명희문학관

전북특별자치도 전주시 완산구 최명희길 29 최명희문학관

Google

Nearby Attractions 3

1

Gyeonggijeon Shrine

A place to view the portrait of King Taejo, Yi Seong-gye, and explore historic sites of the Joseon royal family.

Google
2

Jeondong Cathedral

A place to admire modern Western-style cathedral architecture and the scenery of the Hanok Village.

Google
3

Jeonju Fan Culture Center

A space where you can learn about the history of Jeonju fans and see and experience artisans’ works.

Google

Food & Dining 3

4

Veteran Kalguksu

A renowned Jeonju restaurant serving kalguksu noodles and dumplings with a rich perilla-seed flavor.

Google
5

Gajok Hoegwan

A restaurant serving traditional Jeonju bibimbap, including yukhoe bibimbap.

Google
6

Jo Jeom-rye Nammun Blood Sausage

A traditional restaurant in Nambu Market serving blood sausage and sundae-gukbap.

Google